Virginia Tech Wearing Maligned "Hokie Stone" Helmets Tonight

The Virginia Tech athletic department has given the football team "the thumbs up" to wear the "Hokie Stone" helmets for tonight's game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The helmets, which "created a stir last week on the Internet," are "meant to replicate the 'Hokie Stone' used on buildings throughout the campus" (FOXSPORTS.com, 9/23). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said the helmets are "intriguing and terribly stupid at the same time." Kornheiser: "This is going to make the players look like they have rocks in their heads" ("PTI," ESPN, 9/24).

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech for tonight's game will wear white throwback jerseys "reminiscent of those the Yellowjackets wore during their heyday in the 1950s with blue numbers and striped sleeves." This comes as the school is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/22).